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It's from the first Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book.
Really? What's the context?
Zaphod thinks they're on a mythic quest to find the lost planet Magrathea. They've found a lost planet alright, orbiting twin stars, but Ford still doesn't believe.
Of course, in context, they are in fact orbiting the lost planet of Magrathea.
Well, in true fact, there is no lost planet of Magrathea.
I'm tempted to fuss about large worlds, but I think I shall refrain.
...Apophenia quite rightly points out that I am failing to refrain. Oops.
Well, this line of discussion has probably increased the odds of the existence of the "lost planet of Magrathea" in the local casual structure by a lot.
Still, Ford's position was entirely reasonable ex ante.
How foolish of him to think something like reasonableness would matter in the Hitch-hiker's Guide universe.
Yes, the trouble with rationality is that it may not work very well if you're a fictional character.
Only if you're a character in a fictional world that doesn't itself contain fiction in the same genre that you're in. If it does, you may be able to work out the rules.
Fiction logic dictates that even if you do realize you're fictional, you're almost certain to be wrong about what kind you're in.
Oh, certainly.
Thanks.